Restoration of mental nerve function in major ablation surgeries

Abstract

Ordinary sensation of the skin of lower lip, chin and lower labial mucosa and lower anterior gingivae are supplied by mental nerve, a bifurcated terminal branch of the inferior alveolar nerve of trigeminal nerve. Severance (Complete section or tearing) of mental nerve is not uncommon in ablation surgeries in the treatment of oral and facial malignancy. Patient suffers complete sensory loss and numbness at the skin of lower lip and chin area-is often a social embarrassment for the victim when liquid food/drink spills over the lower lip and chin, in public, without appreciation by the victim.